Improvement in dress-train supporters



G. S'GHWAB. Dress-Train Supporter.

' No; 211,188. Patented Ja n. 7,18 79.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GABRIEL SOHWAB, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN DRESS-TRAIN SUPPORTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 211, 188, dated January 7, 1879 application filed December 31, 1877.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GABRIEL SCHWAB, of the city of New York, county and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ladies DressTrain Extenders and Supporters, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawing.

Figure 1 is a perspective view. Fig. 2 is a full view.

Appropriate letters of reference designate the several parts.

My invention relates to that class of articles known as ladies train-extenders and dressprotectors, and is an improvement on Letters Patent issued to me, dated June 26, 1877, and numbered 192,532.

According to the prevailing style of fashion the ladiesdress proper is not extended from its waist downward by the use of any skeleton skirt or stiffened petticoat, as it is desirable that the outer garment should fit closely, or that its folds should hang loosely and gracefully, without having its contour shaped by the underskirt. Nevertheless it is required that the lower part of the back of the dress, especially the trail or train portion, should not only be protected from dirt and abrasion by comin g in contact with the ground, but that it should also be' shaped and extended so as to preserve a certain contour and keep the pla-its, rufiles, or other trimmings distended and displayed, thus also preventing the lower part of ladies dresses from entanglin g the feet of the wearer while walkin g, or being folded, or drawn inwardly toward the person, as is the upper part of the skirt of the dress when it is not extended by artificial means.

The object of my invention is to supply a protector for the lower edges of ladies dresses, and at the same time to provide a support to preserve the shape of the lower part of the train or trail.

To carry out my invention, I form the main body A of my device of any material having the requisite stiffness or rigidity. I bind its lower edge with any waterproof material,

forming with such binding a finish known as a dress-protector, as shown in the drawings, B. The whole is then stifiened and shaped with ribs and cross-ribs O, preferablyinserted in pocket-receptacles.

In order to project certain portions of the dress-trail outwardly beyond the foundation or main body A of my extender, I affix thereto an additional series of plaits or ruffles composed of suitable stiff material, as shown in the drawings, a a These plaits or ruffles are sewed on to the main body, A.

It is obvious that the dress may be further extended rearward] y by an additional row or rows of plaits or ruffles, a, without departing from the spirit of my invention; and I do not desire to limit myself to a single flounce of these extending plaits or ruffles.

In the drawings, the point of connection is shown by a row of stitching, marked S, causing the portion of the plaits or ruffles below this row of stitching S to be displayed or extended outwardly from the main body A at a more or less obtuse angle, serving the purpose of keeping parts of the trail not only away from the dress, but also from close contact with the main body A of the extender.

I do not wish to confine myself to any special position of the row of stitching S, as it is manifest that by placing it at a more or less distance below the upper edge, c of the plaits and ruffles their angle can be increased or diminished to any given degree, according as the distance of the row of stitching S is increased or diminished from the upper edge, a

I also do not desire to limit myself to the special style ofplaits or ruffles shown on the model or drawings, as it is manifest that these can be modified or changed as taste or convenience may dictate.

What I claim as my invention is- A combined train-extender and dress-protector consisting of a foundation, main body A, bound round its lower edge with a waterproof binding, B, kept shaped and stiffened with lateral and cross ribs 0, and having attached to the main body A' an exterior series of folds, ruffles, or plaits, a, thrown outwardly at any desired angle by means of the row of stitching S, substantially as shown and described.

GABRIEL SCHIVAB.

Witnesses:

GEO. F. GRAHAM, OnAs. E. MAYER. 

